After Differentiation, My Arch-nemesis Thinks I’m Fragrant - Chapter 34

That night, Shu Youzhan had a dream. In the dream, everything was gray, as if the entire world had been covered with a dark filter. No matter how she raised her hand to rub her eyes, she couldn’t dispel the smog in front of her.

Shu Youzhan looked down at her small, white, tender palms. She vaguely heard someone calling her name and looked up, only to see countless tall figures in black suits stroking past her with long strides. Like a small spinning top, she spun around in place but couldn’t find the person calling her.

She wandered aimlessly through the place and saw many white bouquets placed around. In the spacious hall, there was a large picture frame hanging on one wall. When she tilted her head back, she could vaguely glimpse a person with a beautiful face and a gentle demeanor.

Her ears were filled with noisy sounds—a mixture of polite pleasantries, some sincere and some false. Shu Youzhan couldn’t hear clearly what was being said; she only realized in a daze that she seemed to be attending a funeral.

Whose funeral?

Swept along by the crowd like a sardine in a can, she was pushed involuntarily to other places. Finally, after winding around, she unknowingly ended up in a courtyard where there were few people. Fragmented flower petals drifted past her cheeks with the wind. She thought confusedly that these flowers should have a fragrance—faint and very pleasant.

Some images discarded deep in her memory surfaced. Shu Youzhan looked up and indeed saw several Xifu crabapple trees with countless thin branches hanging down. Among the small, round leaves, tiny, layered white flowers bloomed. As the wind blew, the fine petals fell down like rain.

Amidst the swaying branches, she caught sight of a figure. She instinctively walked closer, tapped the tree trunk, and recognized who it was: “Zhao Qinglan… why are you here?”

Memories in dreams are always chaotic; at this moment, Shu Youzhan didn’t realize there was anything wrong with her tone. The shoulders of the person curled up in the tree moved slightly. They maintained a posture with their back turned and didn’t offer any other reaction. A bit of anxiety rose in Shu Youzhan’s heart. She kept looking up, her voice soft and waxy: “Zhao Qinglan, why aren’t you ignoring me? You said last week you were coming to play with me. I’ve been waiting for you at home; why didn’t you come?”

“Mama said you’re in a bad mood. I brought you candy, do you want to try some?” She patiently extended several invitations from beneath the tree. Unfortunately, the person above acted as if they were asleep and ignored her entirely.

Shu Youzhan, with her impatient nature, couldn’t hold back. She looked at the tree seriously, and then, like a nimble little monkey, she stepped on various protrusions and climbed up. Only at close range did she notice the person’s shoulders shaking slightly… it looked like they were crying.

She became anxious instantly: “Don’t cry. I don’t blame you. I’ll call you ‘Sister’ again, just don’t cry, okay?”

Because the footing was unstable, Shu Youzhan kicked the trunk anxiously as she spoke. Just as she was about to slip, Zhao Qinglan finally sat up, turned her back to rub her face, and when she turned around, the edges of her usually clear and clean eyes were slightly red.

“I’m not crying,” she said. “Sand just got in my eyes.”

Shu Youzhan pouted and stared at her face for a long time, as if she had seen through the lie. However, she outwardly cooperated and nodded, squeezing in to sit beside her on the tree. The small space where the branches split was so narrow it caused back pain, and there was nowhere to put her calves except to let them dangle in the air. Yet, the usually pampered Shu Youzhan didn’t mind at all. Her round, beautiful coffee-colored eyes looked at Zhao Qinglan.

“You… don’t be sad. My mama said Auntie Tangtang will be in heaven watching over you forever.”

Zhao Qinglan had been feeling better, but hearing this, her eyes became moist again. She just turned to look at the trees beside them, curled her lips, and after a long while, whispered: “Okay.”

Seeing her like that, Shu Youzhan knew her comfort wasn’t very effective. she fished a handful of soft candies out of her pocket and stuffed them over, saying: “You’ll feel a bit happier after eating candy.”

Zhao Qinglan looked down at the colorful candies in her palm. After a moment, she gave a light laugh and returned them all to Shu Youzhan. “Keep them for yourself.”

Sensing her low mood—as if even the air had become stifling—Shu Youzhan didn’t know what else to say, so she just stayed by her side, watching her eagerly.

After a good while. Zhao Qinglan said: “I will have a new mother.”

Shu Youzhan’s eyes widened. She instantly projected this onto herself, imagining the prospect of not seeing Wei Shuangchi and having to face another strange woman from then on. She let out a shocked, “Huh?”

Zhao Qinglan raised her right hand, her palm pressing against the tree in front of her. Her tender palm met the rough bark. As if talking to herself, she continued: “I heard she’s allergic to pollen. After these few days, these crabapples will be moved away.”

Shu Youzhan reflexively began to feel sad along with her. Then, for some reason her mind took a turn, and Shu Youzhan suddenly grabbed Zhao Qinglan’s wrist and said seriously: “Come to my house.”

“Al-although my mother is very fierce and hits people, she’s afraid of my mama. My mama is very gentle; she will be good to you. Don’t stay here. I… I’ll take you to my house, okay?”

Hearing her say this, Zhao Qinglan’s expression softened, as if she were truly moved by the idea. However, in the end, she simply pulled her hand away and answered Shu Youzhan: “I can’t go.”

“Why?” Shu Youzhan felt herself sinking into that state of anxiety. On one hand, she felt a sense of mission to save her friend like a little hero; on the other, she felt Zhao Qinglan’s current mood was so strange it left her at a loss. She just wanted to take the person away from this place and coax them into a better mood.

Zhao Qinglan sighed her name: “Youyou.”

“Hmm?”

“I really envy you.”

Shu Youzhan listened blankly to the word “envy” from her friend’s mouth, blinking in confusion. She opened her lips to say: “I… whatever you like, I can share with you too.”

Zhao Qinglan just shook her head, as if laughing at her naivety. After a long time, she looked around, voluntarily climbed down from the tree, and opened her arms to her: “Come down. I’ll send you back. This isn’t a good place; don’t come back here after today. It will be hard for Auntie Chi, too.”

At that time, Shu Youzhan didn’t understand the special relationship between the Shu and Zhao families. Because her upbringing hadn’t deliberately instilled notions of social status, she didn’t understand what Zhao Qinglan meant at all. She could only ask: “You don’t want me to come over anymore?”

Zhao Qinglan seemed to want to explain, but finally just uttered an “Mhm.”

“Why? Do you not like me anymore? Do you not want to play with me? Are you angry?” In a child’s world, there are always too many doubts, as if hoping everyone could break down all the reasons and feed them to her so she could see this vast and magnificent world. Unfortunately, Zhao Qinglan did not intend to tell her.

She led Shu Youzhan and brought her before Wei Shuangchi. Seeing Wei Shuangchi obviously breathe a sigh of relief, she bowed politely and apologized. After saying a few words, Wei Shuangchi smiled at her somewhat helplessly and then led Shu Youzhan away.

Shu Youzhan looked back frequently, wanting to see clearly what Zhao Qinglan’s expression was. But the road seemed to lengthen suddenly, and she could only see that short figure being swallowed by countless people dressed in black.

“Beep beep beep beep!”

The sound of the alarm clock suddenly jolted Shu Youzhan awakes from her dream. She rolled over to turn it off, but as she raised her hand, she couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air. She belatedly remembered that she had been directly shoulder-thrown by Shu Yu last night, and her shoulder had hit the ground. Her whole body felt as sore as if it had been run over by a truck.

However, today was already Monday. After spending five minutes waking up, Shu Youzhan belatedly remembered that dream segment. She dragged her exhausted body up to change into her school uniform, grabbed her schoolbag, and left the room to head downstairs.

The aroma of soy milk wafted from the kitchen again. Shu Yu was already sitting at the dining table. She glanced at her in this state and let out a disdainful “Tsk,” seemingly despising her physical strength and recovery power. However, perhaps out of consideration for Wei Shuangchi being nearby, she didn’t voice her mocking words.

Shu Youzhan walked with heavy steps to the dining table. She heard Wei Shuangchi ask with a smile if she felt unwell and if she wanted to take the day off. Braving Shu Yu’s sharp gaze, she immediately shook her head, though her movements taking the bread were a bit listless.

After taking two bites, she thought of something and spoke indistinctly: “By the way, Mama.”

“Hmm?” Wei Shuangchi was spreading jam on Shu Yu’s bread. Hearing this, she turned to look.

“I remember… Auntie Tangtang had a funeral once. Did you take me to attend it back then?”

Before Wei Shuangchi could speak, Shu Yu smiled: “Talking about funerals first thing in the morning, you really have a way with words, Shu Youzhan.”

Shu Youzhan: “…”

Wei Shuangchi, however, didn’t have such taboos. She remembered it quickly when she heard it: “I didn’t want to take you. The Zhao family was a bit chaotic then, but you insisted on going to find Qinglan. And once we were there, you slipped away, scaring me to death. After you came back, your mother even gave you a beating. Forgot?”

Shu Youzhan: “…”

Fine, the cause of the amnesia was found.

Because this part of the story was so unpleasant, after growing up, Shu Youzhan reflexively threw it into the depths of her memory, along with all the scenes of interacting with Zhao Qinglan. For example, now, triggered by the memory of this dream, she thought about it carefully—it seemed she hadn’t actually hated Zhao Qinglan that much as a child. Even when the other party brought certificates and such to the house to show off to her, it seemed… she had been the one to ask to see them first.

However, the unpleasant endings of those childhood moments, combined with the later confrontations influenced by their families, had long ago caused her to view the person through a different lens, and her memories had changed colors accordingly.

She stuffed her face with bread. She originally wanted to drink soy milk, but it was too hot just out of the pot. Wei Shuangchi wanted to put it in a thermos for her to drink on the way, but Shu Youzhan, fearing trouble, grabbed her bag and ran. She heard Shu Yu’s helpless persuasion of her wife from behind, followed by a “little brat.”

…

“Let’s have the student with the perfect score explain why option B was chosen for this question—Student Shu?”

It was Old Fang’s class as usual. Shu Youzhan threw the perfect score test paper to the side. While working on a mock exam, she was using her phone under the desk to search for political news from previous years. Her mind was even triple-tasking, recalling some scenes of later interactions with Zhao Qinglan.

For instance, after being taken away from the Zhao house that time, she had sulked for a long time. Thinking that if Zhao Qinglan didn’t come looking for her, she wouldn’t look for the other party either. Who knew her breath-holding contest wouldn’t last, and she had to shamelessly take the initiative to seek reconciliation. Yet Zhao Qinglan’s attitude was neither hot nor cold; compared to before, even her smiles were sparse. Shu Youzhan was very annoyed and unilaterally extended the cold war.

The pride of youth is always as high as the heavens. There are always too many people coming and going during the growth process. Shu Youzhan never looked back at her again. In junior high, she vaguely understood the relationship between the Shu and Zhao families—how they were always compared by the media—and so… their relationship never improved again.

“Student Shu?”

“Ah?”

Amidst Old Fang’s patient reminding voice, Shu Youzhan suddenly snapped out of it. When she looked up, she heard Old Fang tirelessly repeat: “Why did you choose B?”

Pei Yi, diagonally in front, turned around and whispered to remind her: “Multiple choice, question ten.”

Shu Youzhan glanced at the test paper, frowned in confusion, not knowing what Old Fang wanted her to say, so she tried to speak: “…Because first, A, C, and D are excluded?”

The classroom erupted in laughter. Some people even applauded her, teasing: “Is this the world of a top student?”

Old Fang gave a helpless smile and told them all to restrain themselves: “Quiet! Look at you. If you could see the correct answer at a glance, I wouldn’t have to pull out handfuls of hair every time I grade your papers. Still laughing! Do you have the face to laugh!”

…

Simultaneously. A remote planet.

In front of a charcoal brazier, Zhao Qinglan finished another round of duty. Even though she was now in the warm back tent, and an Alpha’s constitution is excellent, she could barely withstand it. She exhaled a puff of cold air and flipped her hands over the brazier to feel the heat.

“Hey, with your delicate skin, you aren’t some royals from the Empire who came here secretly to train, are you?” Someone saw a new frostbite on her hand and spoke in envious teasing.

A faint smile also appeared in Zhao Qinglan’s eyes as she said: “Have you ever seen any royalty of the Empire who, instead of inheriting the throne, comes to this place to mistreat themselves?”

“True.” The person laughed along.

Taking advantage of this atmosphere, everyone was stirred by some emotion and began talking about their families—how their family members were so reluctant before this stationing mission began, how they were fed several good meals, and even how people wanted them to take pickle jars onto the spaceship.

In the harmonious atmosphere, someone noticed Zhao Qinglan wasn’t speaking. “How come we don’t hear you mention home? Didn’t you say last time you were going to call home? Why haven’t I seen you fussing lately?”

Zhao Qinglan had been with them for a long time and was no longer as reserved as before. Now she just gave a light smile and spoke: “No one in my family worries about me.”

“Ah?” Realizing something, the person went silent for a moment, wanting to change the subject. They then saw Zhao Qinglan staring at the warm glow of the charcoal in the basin, a glimmer in her eyes, as if she were continuing to herself: “There is just one person I miss very much.”

The atmosphere tightened for a moment and then relaxed. Seeing her excellent appearance, the other Alphas began to tease: “It must be an Omega, right! Is she beautiful? What does she look like? Do you have a photo to show us?”

Reminded by this, Zhao Qinglan realized she indeed did not have a photo of Shu Youzhan on her phone. The only intimacy they usually shared was during marking. At other times, Shu Youzhan was like a little hedgehog, ready to bristle with sharp quills at any moment, threatening her not to get close.

“Tell us, we’re so curious. You’re the first one among us to get out of being single—” “I want to hear if Omegas are really soft and fragrant.”

Seeing that someone was about to pull the topic into dangerous territory, Zhao Qinglan felt inexplicably offended. She stood up abruptly, pursed her lips, and said, “If you want to know, go find one yourself. I’m the only one who needs to know what my person is like.”

The light in Zhao Qinglan’s eyes dimmed a bit. She found herself to be so stingy. Even at a time like this, she was unwilling to share even the slightest bit of news about her treasure with others. Whether it was that alluring water lily scent, or the way Shu Youzhan would turn her head in pain with tears in her eyes, clutching her clothes lightly… those secrets were known only to her.